Prince Edward County plans revitalization of downtown areas

By William Proulx

BELLEVILLE – Prince Edward County is planning a to upgrade the downtown areas of several municipalities.

Rossmore, Bloomfield, Wellington, Consecon and Picton will all be part of an upgrade project that will see tree-planting, cleanups and other beautification work in their downtown areas.

“The project itself will help upgrade the esthetic appeal of the downtown cores of the municipalities,” said Mayor Robert Quaiff.

Council announced in December that the county was setting its eyes on a downtown revitalization project.

Quaiff told QNet News that the project will cost $306,500, of which $102,500 will be used to complete the planning work and recruitment of workers and a co-ordinator. That moneyhas come from the Rural Economic Development Program Planning stream of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs. The remaining money was raised by the municipalities involved.

The planning element of the project is important, Quaiff said:

It was announced last week that Tom Coke, formerly the office manager of the Business Improvement Area in Napanee, will co-ordinate the project. Coke was also part of a team that helped Napanee make upgrades to its downtown.

Quaiff said the project will be completed by December 2016.